Psalm 21: By Your Strength
Psalm 21
By Your Strength
Verse 5: "Through the victories you gave, his glory is great; you have bestowed on him splendor and majesty."
Psalm 21 pairs with Psalm 20. While Psalm 20 is a prayer seeking God's help before going into battle, Psalm 21 can be seen as a prayer of thanksgiving to God for leading them to victory after the battle.
The first part of the psalm expresses gratitude for the king's victory in battle (verses 1-6), the second part curses the enemies (verses 7-12), and it concludes with praise for God's power.
Reflecting on verse 5, where God makes David shine and bestows splendor and majesty on him, I was reminded of God making garments of skin for Adam and Eve.
Imagine the scene where Adam and Eve, having disobeyed God's command and eaten the forbidden fruit, are making clothes out of fig leaves.
How did they feel when they suddenly realized their nakedness and experienced shame for the first time?
They must have been terrified, beyond mere surprise. As they hid and tried to cover their shame with hastily made fig leaf garments, they heard God's voice.
"Adam! Adam! Where are you?"
Seeing Adam and Eve barely covering their shame with their makeshift leaf clothes, how did God feel?
God made garments of skin for them. These garments not only covered their shame but also protected them from heat, cold, and sharp objects.
Despite their disobedience, their attempts to shift blame, and their desperate efforts to escape the consequences, God made garments of skin for Adam and Eve.
It wasn't because they were lovable. It wasn't a reward for their righteousness. God made these garments out of compassion, because they were his creation, and he cared for them like a parent.
God bestowed splendor and majesty on David. Though splendor and majesty cannot be compared to garments of skin, did God make these qualities evident in David because he was perfect in God's eyes?
Is my life today, filled with the joy of salvation and the hope of eternal life, due to my own righteousness?
God, help me to remain humble today. Holy Spirit, guide me in truth. Amen.